Let's just think through the potentially damaging logic path here: you win the comp, your players real and money value goes up, but some of the best must be shed to permit some others of the best to be retained. So the best proven teams are pillaged, so that unproven teams can possibly, maybe, some day, get stronger. Maybe.
Do we think this system will result in the consolidation of sustained excellence to build our Collingwoods or Geelongs, or rather the creation of an averaging merry-go-round that never permits more than, at maximum, one year's critical mass for any top team?
Then there is the other issue of equitable recoupment for player investment by a franchise; in this scheme, there is no compensation ever paid for that so that 'new' franchises upon the pillage are effectively being subsidized by the better performing old ones, and the more pillaging there is, the greater that inequity builds to.
We have chosen the socialist version of sports management with a salary cap designed to spread the wealth. The reality is that with this approach the best sides will lose players to the other sides, we lost Beale last season, you were lucky not to lose Genia as well.
It isn't about excellence, it is about the lessor sides being less shit
And that socialist utopia can't be reached if only a portion of the competition is being subject to it. I don't mind the idea in competitions such as NRL and AFL, but it won't work in SupeRugby without ALL teams doing it.
And that socialist utopia can't be reached if only a portion of the competition is being subject to it. I don't mind the idea in competitions such as NRL and AFL, but it won't work in SupeRugby without ALL teams doing it.
That's all I saw there.
I think if you susbscribe to the digital edition of The Australian you will get the rest of the article. That was just a teaser.
Here you go :Copy and paste pls!!!!
If you use chrome or Firefox, you can copy the first sentence in the article, google search that sentence, hover over the first search result and a little arrow comes up on the right with a preview of the full article, then click on the full article and it takes you to the full article page. At least that has been working for the last couple weeks, I don't know if they have fixed that bug yet.Higgers gooooooone..
Apparently...
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...-reds-for-rebels/story-e6frg7o6-1226357966071
Will need one of Murdoch's digital passes to read the article...
The Australian
Higginbotham departs Reds for Melbourne
- by: Bret Harris and AAP
- From: The Australian
- May 17, 2012 12:00AM
Reds backrower Scott Higginbotham. will join Melbourne Rebels next season Picture: Peter Wallis Source: The Daily Telegraph
WALLABIES backrower Scott Higginbotham will leave the Queensland Reds to play for Melbourne Rebels in next year's Super Rugby competition.
As exclusively reported on The Australian's website yesterday, Higginbotham has agreed to terms with the Rebels, but an official announcement will probably not be made until next week.
Higginbotham, who has played 11 Tests, made his Super Rugby debut for the Reds in 2008 and was a key member of last year's title-winning team.
The Rebels made the recruitment of a ball-running backrower their priority for next season and the athletic Higginbotham fits the description perfectly.
With British backrowers Gareth Delve and Michael Lipman returning to the UK at the end of the season, the Rebels needed a quality addition.
The versatile Higginbotham can play blindside flanker, number eight and even openside flanker if necessary.
While the Reds have talented young backrowers Liam Gill, Jake Schatz and Eddie Quirk, Higginbotham has unique skills.
The recruitment of Higginbotham, coupled with the arrival in Melbourne of Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor this year, will add to the feeling the Rebels are a team on the rise after their ground-breaking 28-19 win against the Crusaders last Saturday.
Despite the confidence in the Rebels camp, they cannot afford to take the struggling Western Force lightly when they meet in Perth on Sunday.
Melbourne coach Damien Hill said the Force had world-class players and the Rebels could not ease up.
"They've beaten the Reds and the Waratahs this year and that's two things that we're yet to achieve," he said.
The Rebels have only won once away from home, in Perth last season.
"The challenge this week is to transfer our form on the road," Hill said.
Exciting utility back Richard Kingi will miss out again with his hamstring injury proving slow to heal, however, backrower Tom Chamberlain has finally been given the all-clear to resume playing after suffering a head knock in late March. He will play club rugby in Melbourne.
Higgers gooooooone..
Apparently...
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...-reds-for-rebels/story-e6frg7o6-1226357966071
Will need one of Murdoch's digital passes to read the article...